The Community Foundation inspires hope, leadership, and generosity in our community by bringing economic stability, professional development, and collaboration to the nonprofit sector. As a community facilitator, we coordinate with nonprofit professionals throughout Colorado to provide opportunities that:

• Increase efficiency and success for nonprofits in Southwest Colorado
• Build relationships and facilitate networking between nonprofit professionals
• Create opportunities for peer discussion around best practices
• Enhance relationships across county and geographic boundaries

Southwest Rural Philanthropy Days™ is Coming to Durango!

The Rural Philanthropy Days™ (RPD) conference is scheduled to return to the Southwest region in Durango, June 7-9, 2023. This unique conference provides a forum for quality professional development opportunities close to home as well as networking with other community leaders in the region and relationship building opportunities with statewide funders.

Registration is now closed. Click Here to learn more!

The Community Foundation is a proud Regional Champion for ColoradoGives! We spearhead local participation in the state’s largest online giving event, Colorado Gives Day. We provide the regional giving platform, swcogives.org, and facilitate the collaborative promotion of more than 100 local organizations across our five counties, as part of Southwest Colorado Gives.

An Organization Fund is a long-term fund held and managed by the Community Foundation on behalf of a nonprofit organization. It provides consolidated investment management, convenience, and guidance for donors. Donors always receive assurance that money will be managed for the long term. After discussions with the organization about objectives for the fund, we would recommend a financial goal. For more information on organization funds, please see our Organization Fund Fact Sheet.

• Current Organization Funds

The Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado supports the nonprofit community through various partnerships and initiatives, as well as provides an opportunity for certain organizations that want to provide charitable services to their community, but need additional support.

To learn more about Fiscal Sponsorship and the application process, please take a look at our Fiscal Sponsorship Packet.

Current Fiscal Sponsorships

• Bear Smart
• Café au Play
• Cancer Coalition of Southwest Colorado
• Daybreak Solar Project
• Durango Derailers
• Early Education Council of Archuleta County
• Give a Dam
• Pine River Shares
• Sail Durango
• The Community Treehouse

The Community Foundation’s LAUNCH Fund assists nonprofits to secure affordable capital to accommodate growth and keep fiscal health a priority. The Community Foundation has partnered with First Southwest Bank and First Southwest Community Fund to provide low-interest loan packages for nonprofits for projects such as the purchase or renovation of real estate or the purchase a piece of equipment. Leveraging First Southwest Bank’s CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) designation, the Community Foundation can provide access to terms that appeal to nonprofit boards and staff.

Southwest Colorado Index

The Southwest Colorado Index is intended to assist nonprofits and funding entities across the region by accurately gauging the overall economic, social and environmental health of the communities in Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma and San Juan Counties (Region 9).

The separate reports of the Index, which are provided courtesy of community sponsors, can be found below.  Nonprofits may find this information and data helpful in their grant writing.

Previously called the Pathways to Healthier Communities Indicator Report, the Index was first published by Operation Healthy Communities Inc. (OHC) in 1996. After OHC produced five editions of the Indicator Report in 2006, the Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado took over publication.

• Economic Health & Diversity
• Housing
• Livable Wages
• Energy & Conservation
• Transportation
• Healthcare
• Education & Early Childhood Care

• Board Source inspires and supports excellence in nonprofit governance, as well as board and staff leadership.
• Blue Avocado is the bimonthly newsletter of American Nonprofits, a membership organization that provides practical financial information and support to U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, staff, stakeholders, and volunteers.
• The Colorado Nonprofit Association is the voice of Colorado’s nonprofit community, offering its members a variety of services and technical assistance on starting and managing nonprofit organizations. Click here to download CNA’s Principles & Practices.
• The Colorado Grants Guide is a comprehensive directory of funding sources published by the Community Resource Center. For information, call (303) 623-1540 or visit CRC’s website.
• Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Colorado Chapter enables people and organizations to practice effective fundraising through ethical standards, education resources, and networking.
• Auditors used by Southwest Colorado nonprofits
• Thinking of starting a new nonprofit? Click here for some invaluable assessment tools from GrantSpace by Candid, and click here for some start-up resources from the Community Resource Center.